The Okanagan Indian Band is a First Nations

First Nations

First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...

 government in the Canadian province of British Columbia

British Columbia

British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

, located in the city of Vernon

Vernon, British Columbia

Vernon is a city in the south-central region of British Columbia, Canada. Named after Forbes George Vernon, a former MLA of British Columbia who helped found the famed Coldstream Ranch, the City of Vernon was incorporated on December 30, 1892. The City of Vernon has a population of 35,944 , while...

 in the northern Okanagan

Okanagan

The Okanagan , also known as the Okanagan Valley and sometimes as Okanagan Country is a region located in the Canadian province of British Columbia defined by the basin of Okanagan Lake and the Canadian portion of the Okanagan River. As of 2009, the region's population is approximately 350,927. The...

 Valley. The band is a member government of the Okanagan Nation Alliance

Okanagan Nation Alliance

The Okanagan Nation Alliance is a First Nations Tribal Council in the Canadian province of British Columbia, spanning the Nicola, Okanagan and Similkameen Districts of the Canadian province of British Columbia and also the Colville Indian Reservation in Washington state.-Member...

.

Population

As of October 2010, 809 of the Okanagan Band's population live on one of the band's own reserves, 430 men and 379 women, with 86 people living on reserves governed by other bands (36 men, 50 women). 900 people are living off-reserve. The band's total population is 1,795.

Indian Reserves

Indian Reserves under the administration of the band are:

• Duck Lake Indian Reserve No. 7, on the north shore of Ellison Lake and on the banks of Vernon Creek, 179.10 ha.50°00′00"N 119°24′00"W
• Harris Indian Reserve No. 3, two miles southeast of Otter Lake, 64.80 ha.50°23′00"N 119°14′00"W
• Okanagan Indian Reserve No. 1, in the Okanagan
  Okanagan
  The Okanagan , also known as the Okanagan Valley and sometimes as Okanagan Country is a region located in the Canadian province of British Columbia defined by the basin of Okanagan Lake and the Canadian portion of the Okanagan River. As of 2009, the region's population is approximately 350,927. The...
  
   Valley between Okanagan Lake
  Okanagan Lake
  Okanagan Lake is a large, deep lake in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. The lake is 135 km long, between 4 and 5 km wide, and has a surface area of 351 km². The lake's maximum depth is 232 meters near Grant Island...
  
   and the Salmon River, 10302 ha.50°21′00"N 119°19′00"W
• Otter Lake Indian Reserve No. 2, at the south end of Otter Lake, nine miles north of Vernon
  Vernon, British Columbia
  Vernon is a city in the south-central region of British Columbia, Canada. Named after Forbes George Vernon, a former MLA of British Columbia who helped found the famed Coldstream Ranch, the City of Vernon was incorporated on December 30, 1892. The City of Vernon has a population of 35,944 , while...
  
  , 25 ha.50°24′00"N 119°15′00"W
• Priest's Valley Indian Reserve No. 6, on Vernon Creek at its mouth on the east side of Okanagan Lake, southwest of Vernon, 33.60 ha.50°15′00"N 119°20′00"W
• Swan Lake Indian Reserve No. 4, on the north shore of Swan Lake, 32.20 ha.50°20′16"N 119°15′32"W

Road blockade

On February 22, 2010 the Okanagan Indian Band began blockading Tolko Industries Ltd.'s access to the Browns Creek watershed. The blockade is supported by the Union of BC Indian Chiefs.